IceDogs agitator; Legein back to rough and tumble style just in time for playoffs 0

Stefan Legein is back to his old self and that's bad news for the playoff foes of the Niagara IceDogs.

One of the Ontario Hockey League's premier pests and an admitted admirer of New York Ranger agitator Sean Avery, Legein - who is known as "that @#$%&* Legein" to his opponents - has returned to his take-no-prisoners style of play where he hits everyone and anyone in sight.

The second-round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets had been reluctant to return to his robust style of play after returning to the IceDogs lineup March 2. He had been out of the lineup since separating a shoulder in the gold-medal game of the world hockey championships in January.

In recent games, the 5-foot-10, 185-pounder has returned to his typical shift disturber style of play.

"I thought I should test it out and throw my weight around so I know I can play my game come playoff time," the 19-year-old Oakville native said.

So far, the prognosis is positive for Legein to have a lengthy and nasty playoff run.

"It feels good. It's still a little stiff in the morning but it's getting better and it should be good for Game 1," he said.

Doctors have told Legein the shoulder is fully healed but it is the mental aspect of the injury that has yet to check out of the IceDogs' sick bay.

"There was a lot of fear because I didn't want to get hurt again. I'm always going to be a little scared until I get over it."

He admits it won't happen overnight.

"It's going to take me a while to get fully back mentally. But I know I have to do it so I'm not going to think about it and I'm just going to go out and play my game."

IceDogs head coach Mario Cicchillo can understand Legein's fears.

"In the back of his mind, he's thinking is the shoulder good or is it not?"

Legein played only 30 of his team's 68 games but he doesn't look at the 2007-08 campaign as a lost year.

"I still think a lot of good things happened. My game has obviously come a long way and when I was playing, I was playing well."

The former fifth-round pick of the IceDogs in the 2004 OHL draft potted 24 goals and 37 points in 30 games. Pro-rated to an entire season, that translates into a 54-goal campaign.

A lot of Legein's scoring came against the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors, the team the IceDogs open the playoffs against tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Jack Gatecliff Arena.

In the IceDogs' first three games against Mississauga, Legein bagged two hat tricks to finish with eight goals and 11 points.

"Some guys have certain teams and certain rinks where they play well at. The Hershey Centre is one of those rinks and Mississauga is one of those teams where things go my way."

Legein is anxious to start the playoffs and erase any memories - no matter how slight they are - of last season's first-round upset at the hands of the Sudbury Wolves.

"I've only played 10 playoff games in my three years in the league and I have to prove myself as a playoff player," he said.

He is totally focused on helping the IceDogs advance in the OHL playoffs and hasn't contemplated what lies ahead with Columbus.

"I don't think we will be done in time for me to do anything there," he said.

After tonight's game, the IceDogs are in Mississauga Friday before Game 3 goes Sunday night at 7:30 p.m. in St. Catharines.

bpuchalski@ stcatharinesstandard.ca

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